Fannie Ruth Steward

F. Ruth Phillips Steward

Ogden - F. Ruth Phillips Steward, age 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 11, 2001 at the home of her daughter. She was surrounded by loving family members who had gathered to say good-bye to her.

Ruth was born June 29, 1915, in Logan, the third of ten children and the eldest daughter. When her mother died of cancer, Ruth helped raise the younger siblings.

She attended Ogden City schools and graduated from Ogden High School.

On August 14, 1945, she was married to Harry L. Steward in Elko, Nevada. They had three children.

When Harry died suddenly on August 9, 1961, Ruth was left with a house mortgage and a family to raise. Propped up by a few upholstery cushions to enable her to see over the top of the steering wheel, she soon learned to drive the family Nash Rambler with a stick shift and went to work as a seamstress, something she had become accomplished at by an early age.

Over the course of her sewing career, Ruth worked at Quinn's Garment Company, Mode O Day, Twentieth Century Sportswear, and finally went to work for the DDO in Ogden. She retired in 1982, after working nineteen years for the government.

Ruth didn't just sew underwear and army tents. She made wedding dresses for her daughters, and many of her granddaughters and nieces, as well as their bridesmaids' dresses and wedding cakes. In fact, Ruth's entire life revolved around children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A statement by one of Grandma Ruth's adult grandsons pretty much sums up the family's feelings toward their family matriarch. "My goal was always to grow up and marry someone just like Grandma."

In fact, two of us did. We married her daughters.

Four brothers and one sister preceded Ruth in death. One brother and three sisters survive her, James Ned Phillips, Margaret Wayment, Agnes Roberts and Barbara Sarlo. Also surviving are her three children, David and Nancy Steward, Cris and Gwen Gallegos, both of Ogden, Bob and Harriet Hodgson of Brigham City. She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Gardens Retirement Center as well as the caregivers of Heritage Hospice who always treated our mother with kindness, gentleness, and dignity.
VisitationMyers Mortuary - Ogden
100 Monroe Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84404
August 17, 2001
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ServiceMyers Mortuary of Ogden
845 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84404
August 18, 2001
11:00 AM
CemeteryMyers Evergreen Memorial Park
100 Monroe Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84404
August 18, 2001